Carole Maugé-Lewis
Professor Emerita | Graphic Communications
MFA, Howard University
BFA, Howard University
Educational Philosophy
With graphic design being such a powerful and dynamic discipline for solving visual problems, Maugé-Lewis's focus is on helping students understand and apply design fundamentals to develop solutions that effectively convey messages to the intended audiences. This includes exploring typographic form, syntax, and communication, with careful attention paid to typography, page layout and composition.
In the classroom, she encourages students to thoroughly research and consider all aspects of a problem in order to find the most effective solutions. This is achieved by building a strong foundation in problem-solving and effective critiquing skills, as well as strategic planning. Positive critique and clear articulation of concepts are vital during the design process, as they help students develop a strong design vocabulary. Additionally, mastery of ever-changing technology requires excellent technical skills, which students can achieve through constant practice.
The Graphic Communication Concentration was established in January 1995 when Carole Maugé-Lewis was hired to implement it. Since then, the concentration has become known for producing high-quality, award-winning designs. With an effective and evolving curriculum, it remains one of the largest concentrations in the BFA program in the School of Art and Design (SOAAD). Maugé-Lewis's contributions to the SOAAD and the discipline as a whole have been significant, as she progressed from Assistant to Professor, while coordinating the graphic communication concentration.
From the beginning, students in the program have won numerous awards and secured lucrative positions in design agencies and graphic design services, both locally and nationally. Some have even found employment with prestigious companies such as Disney, Facebook, Apple, and other branding and UI/UX agencies, while a few have begun individual businesses.
In 2015, students continued to receive recognition in esteemed design competitions, including the Society of Publication Designers and The One Show. However, the most rewarding recognition has come from Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), a respected source for graphic design professionals for over 65 years. Students have been featured in GDUSA's print and online magazines and have won awards every year since. Furthermore, for the past three years, students have been invited to participate in the exclusive 48-HR Repack competition, where they have received coveted awards. Additionally, since 2015, SOAAD has been recognized and listed among the "Top Design Schools" in the US by GDUSA.
With such attention from the national graphic design community, Maugé-Lewis was honored in 2018 as one of GDUSA's "Educators to Watch." She was also recently featured in "60 Years of GDUSA People to Watch for Six Decades," alongside legendary designers like Milton Glaser, Massimo Vignelli, and Saul Bass.
Maugé-Lewis's teaching scholarship has been recognized through her receipt of the Distinguished Teaching Award in the College of the Arts on two occasions. Her talent for cross-disciplinary collaboration across various departments at KSU, notably with the Computer Science and English Departments, is well-known. She has also collaborated with faculty members from other disciplines in the SOAAD, including Sculpture, Ceramics, Printmaking, and Jewelry and Small Metals. Her scholarship and award-winning creative work have been well-documented, serving local, national, and international clientele.
For the Graphic Communication concentration, Maugé-Lewis developed and implemented the Internship Program, allowing students to gain practical experience in the field. She also established the Graphic Design Advisory Board, which continues to meet annually and consists of industry leaders in design and the business community.
